How we redefined our set of values to reflect who we really are
In a constantly changing corporate world, companies need to adapt, grow, and evolve. At Voxy, we are no different. Since we last revisited our corporate values in 2018, a lot has changed: we transitioned from a model with two physical offices to a fully remote, globally distributed team, allowing us to hire talent in different countries. Additionally, we expanded our impact to new languages and cultures, while incorporating new companies into our ecosystem. Because of this, we realized it was time to look inward and ensure our values aligned with this growth.
Why review corporate values?
Corporate values are not just nice words on a wall—they are the foundation that guides our decisions, our growth, and how we work together. When we last revisited our values in 2018, we were a different company: we had around 50 employees, operated in person, and were solely focused on English education. Today, with over 120 employees in 10 countries and a product portfolio that includes multiple languages, we realized that some values no longer represented who we are.
The first step was to understand if our corporate values still made sense for our team. To do this, we conducted internal surveys and listened to both our employees and leadership to identify any misalignment between our stated guidelines and what we actually experienced daily.
How did we create a new set of corporate values?
Ensuring this new set of corporate values was true to Voxy’s essence, we looked at both external and internal references. We examined how our first set of values was created, conducted benchmarks with other companies in the industry, and most importantly, involved our own employees in the process.
We formed a committee called the Culture Pod, made up of people from different departments, tenure levels, and hierarchical positions. For more than two quarters we conducted research, interviews, and alignment meetings, seeking a balance between what our teams believed defined Voxy and what leadership considered essential for the company’s future.
Turning corporate values into concrete actions
One of the biggest changes was how we structured the new corporate values. In the past, they were more abstract and aspirational. Now, we aimed to turn them into concrete actions that would reflect what we truly experience and share daily.
Additionally, we reduced the number of values from six to four. During the review process, we noticed that some of the previous values overlapped or could be refined to better reflect our current culture. Instead of simply discarding them, we reworked them to make them clearer and more actionable in our daily operations. Of the four current values, three are evolutions of the previous set, adjusted to align with today’s Voxy.
Another interesting insight we discovered through research was that the first and last values are the most memorable—an important factor we considered when defining the final order presented to the team.
Introducing Voxy’s new corporate values
Voxy’s new set of Unified Values:
- We take action with empathy
- We communicate to drive impact
- We embrace diverse perspectives to deliver remarkable results
- We take ownership of our outcomes
Each of these values was created based on the reality of our teams, ensuring they truly represent Voxy’s culture.
More than an announcement: a moment of celebration
To ensure that the new corporate values were well received and incorporated into daily life, we organized a special launch during our annual kickoff. Voxy’s CEO officially introduced the new values, reinforcing their meaning and importance. Additionally, each employee received a T-shirt with the new symbols, which were designed with colors that complement the company’s visual identity and further solidify our culture.
The launch was not just about announcing new directions – it was about recognizing and strengthening Voxy’s collective identity.
Corporate values that prepare us for the future
Revisiting our corporate values was a fundamental process to ensure that we are aligned with Voxy’s future. More than just words, they represent our daily actions, guide our decisions, and reinforce the culture we build together.
If there’s one thing we’ve learned from this process, it’s that a company’s values should not be static – they should grow and evolve with the organization. And more importantly: they need to be lived, not just written. At Voxy, every decision, every conversation, and every interaction is now guided by corporate values that truly represent who we are and where we want to go.
